title: Potassium channels of the lamprey erythrocyte membrane exhibit a high selectivity to K+ over Rb+: a comparative study of 86Rb and 41K transport.
abstract: In order to assess the specificity of potassium channels, we examined the K+ transport pathways in the lamprey red blood cells using 86Rb and stable isotope 41K as tracers measured by the mass spectrometric method. Upon replacing 4 mmol/l K+ with 4 mmol/l Rb+ in the incubation medium, the rate coefficient for unidirectional 86Rb influx (Kin) was significantly reduced from 1.48 +/- 0.10 h-1 to 0.82 +/- 0.05 h-1 (P < 0.001). Addition of 1 mmol/l Ba2+ to the incubation medium significantly decreased 86Rb influx in K(+)- (by 53%) and Rb(+)-media (by 26%). Thus, the reduction in the rate coefficient for 86Rb influx in Rb(+)-medium as compared to K(+)-medium was mainly due to the Ba(2+)-sensitive component (0.23 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.78 +/- 0.10 h-1, P < 0.001). The ouabain-sensitive component of 86Rb influx was also higher in K(+)-(Kin = 0.62 +/- 0.05 h-1) than in Rb(+)-medium (Kin = 0.54 +/- 0.05 h-1, P < 0.05). In the presence of 4 mmol/l 41KCl, the average value of the rate coefficient for the total 41K influx was 8.1 +/- 0.5 h-1. The rate coefficient for 41K influx was reduced to 0.82 +/- 0.13 h-1 in the presence of 1 mmol/l Ba2+. Under the conditions of our assays, the rate of 86Rb uptake via potassium channels of the lamprey red cells was only about 11% in K(+)-medium and only about 3% in Rb(+)-medium compared to 41K influx. These data clearly demonstrate a high selectivity of potassium channels for K+ over Rb+, as already reported for some potassium channels in a variety of cells and tissues.
authors.affiliation: Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg. gusev@ief.spb.su
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Gusev
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Fleishman
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Nikiforov
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Sherstobitov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000494:pharmacology; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D007798:Lampreys; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D011194:Potassium Isotopes; D012414:Rubidium Radioisotopes / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D011194:Potassium Isotopes; D012414:Rubidium Radioisotopes; D001464:Barium; D010042:Ouabain; D011188:Potassium